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Tomo-chan Is a Girl!is an anime romcom from 2023 about awkward tomboy Tomo Aizawa and her efforts to get her childhood friend and crush, Junichiro, to see her as a girl and recognize her feelings for him. The series didn’t leave a major impact during its short run, but it was fun to watch, regardless, especially for those waiting years for the manga to receive an adaptation.
Tomo-chanis one of the best anime romcomsin recent years a person can watch, and fans can now watch it not just on Crunchyroll, but on physical media, as well. Crunchyroll recently releasedTomo-chanon Blu-ray and DVD, and in addition to the regular version,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!is available in a limited edition box set with a bevy of exclusive accessories and bonus features based on the anime and the manga. Having the anime by itself is great, but with everything included in the limited edition, there’s even more to love about the series.
How Does Tomo-chan Is A Girl! Hold Up As An Anime?
Why Tomo-chan Is A Girl! Is Worth Watching
Before anything else, of course, what needs to be addressed is how wellTomo-chan Is a Girl!holds up over a year since its premiere. In terms of animation and overall visual aesthetic, the series never does much to truly stand out, especially compared to other anime that were running at the same time as it likeVinland Sagaseason 2 andNier: Automata Ver1.1a, but fortunately,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!manages to have consistently good artwork and animation from start to finish, which is more than can be said about many anime that were running during that season.
The anime’s biggest claim to fame is with its writing, however. Between some great comedic bits, strong character writing, and surprisingly touching romantic and personal drama that never overstays its welcome,the narrative ofTomo-chan Is a Girl!perfectly blends comedy and personal drama for a fun story from start to finish. The series never strays too far from the typical tropes of its genre, but it executes them all so effectively that it’s hard to find any fault in it from a narrative standpoint, and that, in and of itself, is worth praising.
The only thing that can be said that is truly wrong withTomo-chan Is a Girl!is that it took so long for it to come out. As popular as the manga was, the anime didn’t come out until four years after the manga ended, and because of that,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!’s anime suffered from coming out when the series had already run its course for many. None of that stopsTomo-chan Is a Girl!from being a great anime, of course, but it does, unfortunately, explain why it was one of2023’s most underrated anime.
Tomo-chan Is A Girl!’s Exclusive Content Is A Must-Have For Any Fan
Beyond the enduring quality of the anime,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!’s limited edition boxset is a must-have for its bevy of bonus content. Just with the Blu-ray and DVD, for example,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!’s physical release includes trailers, textless versions of the opening and ending themes, the “Making Of” shorts, and the Anime NYC premiere video with the Japanese cast, all wrapped up in a colorful steel box, to boot. Many anime physical releases are notoriously barebones, so overall, it’s great that Crunchyroll saw fit to include so much withTomo-chan’s release.
The various accessories included in the release are also worth highlighting. In addition to two sticker sheets and eight exclusive art cards, all of which include images from both the anime and the manga,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!’s limited edition includes an art book with original comics, new illustrations from director Hitoshi Nanba, and an exclusive interview with the anime’s English voice cast. It’s been over a year sinceTomo-chan Is a Girl!first aired, but with such a wide variety of accessories, the wait for the physical release is more than justified.
Tomo-chan Is A Girl!’s Limited Edition Boxset Is One Of The Best Purchases An Anime Fan Can Make
Between the excellent selection of special features and accessories, the stellar quality of the anime, itself, and how affordable the price of the collection is,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!’s limited edition boxset is the best way to experience the anime for both serious collectors and people looking to get into the series for the first time. As underrated as it was during its run,Tomo-chan Is a Girl!is still one of the best anime romcoms a person can watch, and for anyone looking to see why that is, the limited edition boxset is the best way to go.
A special thank you to Crunchyroll for providing us with a review copy ofTomo-chan Is a Girl’s limited edition Blu-ray release.
Tomo-chan Is a Girl!
Cast
Tomo-chan Is a Girl! is an anime series that follows the story of Tomo Aizawa, a high school girl who struggles to convey her feelings to her childhood friend Jun, who only sees her as one of the guys. The series explores Tomo’s comedic and heartfelt attempts to make Jun realize that she is, indeed, a girl, while navigating the complexities of teenage friendships and romance.
